I Cannot Be a Bystander connects the past and present to expose the impact of hate and the power of action. Through the voices of Holocaust survivors and members of communities subjected to hate and bigotry today, the film reveals that silence enables injustice—and participation transforms it. The film demonstrates how empathy, courage, and civic engagement can create stronger communities and protect democracy.
Featuring powerful testimonies from leaders, experts, scholars, and young people, I Cannot Be a Bystander amplifies a diverse chorus of courageous voices, who empower us to create change. This 90-minute film, in three acts, helps illuminate how even the most reticent among us can make a tangible difference, from simple acts of kindness to boldly standing against intolerance.
The Story Behind the Story
When I (Jennie) began this project in late 2022, we were seeing hate at a level I had never encountered before: comments online, flyers being left on people’s driveways, celebrities making ugly antisemitic remarks. I wanted to respond. When someone tweeted at me that “You belong in an oven” I knew I had to act.
I began this film the next day. Initially I interviewed seven Holocaust survivors with the idea of making a short film. What I did not anticipate was that each of the survivors would, unprompted, tell me that I must not only address antisemitism, but that all the hate we were witnessing—racism, anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant sentiment, anti-Asian hate, etc.—must be part of the story. The film expanded to a feature that honors the wishes of the survivors.
Sadly, hate and division has only grown in the time since we started the film. It's almost impossible to read the news today without seeing incidents of hate and marginalization. But, we are also seeing massive efforts to counter the hate - by NGOs, by celebrities and influencers, but most importantly by everyday people who understand that WE are the solution.
As of Fall 2025, we have interviewed eleven Holocaust survivors, eight members of Congress (including Senator Adam Schiff and Representatives Jamie Raskin, Nikema Williams, Don Bacon, and more), community and religious leaders, scholars, and experts on hate. The film will include animation and an original score to draw viewers in and help them shift from observers to participants.
If you are interested in engaging further and would like to see a more detailed description of the film and/or a set of video clips from some of the interviews conducted so far, please reach out to us directly at jennie@tidepoolpicures.com or abbie@301south.net.